FOCUS PROGRAM

Goals :To increase the socialization of the rights defined in the national Constitution and law and monitor closely the implementation of the rights included in ratified international treaties.

Based on KontraS’ vision and mission, its short terms objectives and work plan are as follows:

1. Legal Defence for Victims of Human Rights Violations

This preventive effort is to help protect members of society from becoming a target of human rights violations by state powers.

2. Truth-seeking

Uncovering the truth is a primary concern when attempting to deal with past abuses. Truth-seeking is an important process that should ideally be conducted by the government to build an accurate historical record. It is often a prerequisite for other justice initiatives. The quality of truth-seeking is essential and must involve victims.

3. Due Process of Law

The due process of law demands accountability for human right violations through a fair legal procedure. Such accountability is an essential part of the development and promotion of human rights through the enforcement of legal guarantees and protections.

4. Reparations

Reparations constitute another component in the fulfillment of victims’ rights. Reparations include any form of compensation, restitution, rehabilitation or recognition. Reparations are the responsibility of the state.

Campaigns to Shape and Influence Public Opinion

Anti-violence
The campaigns against violence aim to promote a discourse which will help fight the politics of violence. These campaigns aims to develop the community’s sensitivities to the presence of violence, especially in relation to forced disappearances, rape, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, summary executions, and the other forms of serious human rights violations.

Human Rights Violations
KontraS calls for urgent action on human rights violations. These campaigns cover the importance of resolving contemporary as well as past cases of human rights violations. They also support advocacy which reinforces the understanding that human rights are fundamental and must be taken into consideration in making every policy decision. For this purpose, KontraS conducts monitoring and policy studies relating to the protection and promotion of human rights in Indonesia.

ISSUES:

Disappeared People
Enforced or involuntary disappearances have a special character, different from other gross human rights violations. This special character originates from the uncertainty such disappearances create about the fate and current whereabouts of victims. International laws state that disappearance cases constitute a continuing crime. Based on this, disappearance cases do not focus on when the victims disappeared, but rather on the fact that the victim’s fate continues to be unknown. With this “continuing” status, disappearance cases fall under the jurisdiction of the human rights court formed by Law No. 26/2000. Unfortunately, there are still obstacles keeping these cases from Indonesian courts. One such obstacle is the Attorney General who does not appear to have the impetus or commitment to address the many cases of enforced disappearance.

In fighting for justice for those who have disappeared, KontraS has been lobbying and campaigning on the national and international level. On the national level, KontraS and victims’ families have demanded that the Attorney General, Parliament and Komnas HAM move the process forward. On the international level, KontraS has become a member of AFAD (Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearance) which actively submitted our complaints to UNWGEID and continues to pressure international mechanisms, invoking the Convention on The Protection for All Persons from Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance.

Extrajudicial Killings
Extrajudicial killing continues to be a problem in Indonesia. In 2004, it even affected one of KontraS leaders, Munir, a leading Indonesian democracy and human rights activist. The murder of Munir showed that there has been and continues to be a political conspiracy involving the state apparatus focused on using violence and intimidation to prevent people from being too openly critical of those in power in Indonesian.

Various issues have triggered extrajudicial killings, including: politics, government policy, political party matters, economic interests, social problems, legal cases and cultural issues.

In most regions in Indonesia, patterns of extrajudicial killing have emerged. Extrajudicial killings are repressive, planned, and systematic. The policies stem from incumbent government regimes desire to maintain power. Using extrajudicial killings to secure New Order-style power has not completely vanished in Indonesia. KontraS has taken and will continuous to make efforts to work with all elements of society to prevent a reversion to the frequent use of extrajudicial killing.

Arbitrary Detentions
Arbitrary detention has been used in Indonesia at least since 1965, when the State arrested, arbitrarily detained, and tortured numerous people without legal process or a fair trial. The practice of arbitrary detention demonstrates the hegemony of the executive branch of the government and represents an attempt to intervene into the rightful realm of the judiciary, an area of the government which should be independent and impartial.

Arrest and arbitrary detentions in Indonesia have been used against people accused of subversive acts. Such acts have related to the Tanjung Priok case, the Talangsari case, the July 27, 1996 riots, and other students demonstration. Arrests and arbitrary detentions have also been used against laborers and farmers.

KontraS generally focuses on arbitrary detention cases related to the political interest of the present government. In other words, KontraS focuses on detentions which are (strongly alleged) to be correlated with the government’s illegal attempts to maintain its hegemony.

Torture
Torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment continue to be forms of punishment in Indonesia. Such repressive activities are conducted by those in power with the justification that they are merely trying to create a stable and ordered society (as was done to members of civil society who were accused of being involved in separatism, criminal behavior, participating in demonstration, etc.).

Torture has been used by the government against people resistant to government policies. More and more, the state has sought to justify torture. They claim that such strong measures are allowable because they are needed by the police, the military and the court system.

Indonesian Law number 5/1998 on the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel and Inhumane Treatments has not yet been implemented. Existing regulations are not enough, since they are not appropriately harmonized with other regulations. Meanwhile, officers in the police force, military, and detention centers remain the main perpetrators and lack a comprehensive understanding on the prohibitions on the use of torture.

4. Strengthening Capacity & accountability of organization
- Distribution of information related to organization's work
- The use of website and communication facilities
- Provision of technology facilities
- Holding meetings for members of kontras associations and alumni
- Building partnership with partner institutions
- Capacity building for members of KontraS' working committee
- Planning and evaluation on organization's work making effective safety system